Sunday

May 5, 2019 at 5:00 AM

TALLAHASSEE — The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature met most of first-year Gov. Ron DeSantis’ wish list while also seeding the political landscape for the combative 2020 election over the course of the just-finished two-month session.

Measures that could result in some teachers carrying weapons as school guardians, a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, a new private-school voucher program and fresh challenges for former felons looking to register as voters were approved over fierce opposition from Democrats.

Lawmakers ended the session a day into overtime Saturday by approving a $91.1 billion state budget for the year beginning July 1.

But in the nation’s biggest political toss-up state, with President Donald Trump’s re-election bid topping next year’s ballot, the contentious battles of spring in Tallahassee are certain to echo in the unfolding campaigns.

Both parties have plenty to point to in firing up their voting bases.

“Rhetoric is at an all-time high,” said Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, who doubles as chairman of the Florida GOP.

DeSantis entered the session drawing good reviews from Floridians, even Democratic voters, especially for his tackling of the state’s water problems, which included cataclysmic algae outbreaks on both coasts last year.

By steering almost $683 million to water quality improvement efforts, lawmakers topped DeSantis’ robust funding request, drawing praise from those in both parties.

But the governor also campaigned as a strict conservative in his narrow election victory last year. And divisive legislation served up by the Republican majority has DeSantis’ stamp of approval, even while it risks antagonizing many Florida voters.

“It’s going to hurt Republicans if they get too far right,” said Sen. Oscar Braynon, a Miami Gardens Democrat. “Statewide, Florida may have voted for Trump (in 2016). But it doesn’t mean that voters in individual legislative districts want these kinds of bills.”

Trump won Florida by 113,811 votes over Hillary Clinton, out of more than 9 million ballots cast — giving him a 1.2 percent margin of victory.

To win re-election, Trump is looking to replicate the electoral map that carried him to the White House even as he lost the popular vote nationwide by more than 3 million votes.

Florida is in play. Again.

While the presidential contest dominates the state next year, there also will be legislative races, congressional contests, even merit retention for the three new Supreme Court justices DeSantis appointed in January.

These justices are likely to figure in an anticipated challenge to the new Family Empowerment Scholarships approved by lawmakers that will use $136 million in taxpayer money to send 18,000 lower- and middle-income students to private schools.

The Florida Education Association, one of the Democratic Party’s strongest allies, has rallied opposition to the new vouchers, which critics say sap dollars from traditional public schools.

The move also appears to conflict with a 2006 Florida Supreme Court ruling that found steering taxpayer money directly to private schools violates the state constitution’s demand for a “uniform” education system.

But the political shadings of the new voucher expansion were evident when Bush traveled to the Capitol to watch as the House approved the measure in the session’s closing days.

Many of these same public education advocates also are inflamed over legislation before DeSantis that adds teachers to the list of school personnel who can volunteer for training and carry weapons as school guardians.

DeSantis is expected to sign that into law, too.

Another bill with election-year overtones is the Legislature’s enacting of last year’s voter-approved amendment, which was designed to make it easier for former felons to regain their voting rights.

Florida has an estimated 1.4 million potential voters ineligible because of past felony convictions — the most in the nation.

But voter rights organizations say the Legislature’s demand that court fees, fines and restitution be fully paid before ex-felons can vote will continue to bar thousands of Floridians from the polling place.

A protégé of Trump, DeSantis made a campaign pledge to enact a sanctuary cities ban, which also helped drive one of the most volatile issues of this spring’s Legislature.

The measure drew loud protests and tearful immigrant families to the Capitol, but that did little to change the legislation, which requires state and local government authorities to fully cooperate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Local law enforcement would have to comply with detainer requests from ICE and hold immigrants living illegally in the U.S. if they are arrested for other crimes — a demand that critics see as forcing local governments to assume a role that belongs to the federal government.

Trump, with his demand for a wall at the Mexico border, is fueling the push for aggressive steps to curb illegal immigration.

The new governor is eager to enact the sanctuary cities ban, even though no local governments in Florida currently push back against ICE.

“I think a lot of us are surprised at all the talk of sanctuary cities,” said Sen. Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale. “Where’s that coming from? Banning something that doesn’t exist. How does that get to the top of the list of things that have to pass?”

Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, said DeSantis is responding to voter demands for action on immigration. He said that with Congress unable to decide on comprehensive legislation, states have been forced to step up.

Ingoglia said immigration was a central issue in the 2016 and 2018 elections, and will be again next year. Trump has seized on voter anger, he said.

“The president is the embodiment of 40 years of frustration with the federal government not fixing the issue of immigration,” Ingoglia said. “I think that’s why it resonates with a lot of voters — not just Republicans, but some Democrats and independents.”

House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami, said it is misguided to think that 2020 politics drove legislation. Oliva said that view diminished accomplishments of the session, particularly those aimed at lowering the cost of health care and expanding education.

“That’s not for the base, that’s for all Floridians,” Oliva said. “It’s been a fantastic session.”

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